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This is Part 2 of the Revolution in Athletic Street Competition article. If you didn't get a chance to read the first article, make sure you check it out. The link is located at the bottom of this page.

(PART 2)

Who is involved with RASCBall?

The athletes who compete in RASCBall come from all walks of life and athletic backgrounds. Currently the pool of players consists of athletes from the following sports: Hockey, Basketball, Soccer, Football, Volleyball, Baseball, Track, Lacrosse, Wrestling, and Tennis. The realm of athleticism is far reaching and the variance of positions played is extensive as well.
The above mentioned are on the athletic side of RASCBall. Their is also a business side to the sport as well, known as “The Association of RASCBall” (the AR). Myself and Rich Gubsch spearhead this aspect, with the focus being to continue developing, refining and promoting our sport to the public. I am a Sports Management major and Rich is a Business and Economics soon to be graduate of Capital University. Business Administration major Chris Crothers is our web design extraordinaire and the ever creative Tim Beem is our multimedia developer (Highlight Videos, Posters, etc.).

Our Goals and Ambitions

1. Form strong credible partnerships with local businesses.

2. Project to society that a health conscious way of life is the norm. We want to give health minded individuals a new outlet to stay or get into peak physical condition. 

3. Attract more athletes, sponsors and partners for our official Summer League set to kickoff in mid-June.

Where you may have seen us?

We began playing on the campus of Ohio State University in 2003. While roaming up and down 11^th Avenue or heading to your dorm, you probably saw us at the outdoor sports court next to the Jesse Owens Recreation Center on the south end of campus. Last summer our media blitz included write ups and stories from the premiere press outlets in the capital city. WBNS-TV Channel 10 sports reporter Dan Fronczak, attended our Showcase Game and filmed a piece for the networks “Wall to Wall Sports” program. The two minute feature was RASCBall’s first taste of television airtime. Additionally, Kevin Joy and John Ross of “The Columbus Dispatch” and “Columbus Alive“, respectively, both featured RASCBall in full fledged articles with great color photos, in depth information and commentary on what our sport is about. Also, “City Scene Magazine” promoted RASCBall in their summer “Get Out and Play” series.

"I was floored by the creativity and athleticism displayed by the competitors involved in one of the most unique sports I've ever witnessed. RASCBall is truly an up and coming sport led by a group of young entrepreneurs who are as talented as they are smart about distributing their product to the masses."

-Dan Fronczak, Sports Anchor WBNS-10TV
     

Benefits and Appeal for Athletes

• RASCBall is a new and fresh outlet to stay and/or get in peak physical condition.

• A unique way for co-workers, classmates, friends to bond.

• A change from the traditional sports landscape.

• A way for former star jocks to continue the glory days of old.

• The broad competition of RASCBall relates to so many athletes in the world of competitive athletics.  

• RASCBall’s fast pace, intensity and natural appeal will give participants a modern stage to compete.

Hear it from the RASCBall Athletes themselves
 
What is your favorite aspect of RASCBall?

• RASCBall Founder, Mike Crosky- “The fact that all of our athletes essentially built the sport from the ground up. RASCBall is heavily influenced by the sports we all grew up playing. We have taken the greatest attributes from those sports and implemented them into one dynamic product. We took what was once simply just a game between friends and developed it into a legitimate sport with substance.”

• RASCBall Co-founder, Rich Gubsch- “Besides having a hand in creating it, the fact that RASCBall takes everything I love about sports and puts into one sport. The physicality, the finesse, the scoring, the excitement of a close game, and the discomfort of defeat. It truly is a great game!! Long Live RASCBall!!”

• Original RASCBaller and longtime soccer player Francisco Pineda- “The diversity and competition.”

• Former Ohio State Hockey Goaltender, Mike Betz- “The hitting and physical nature of it.”

• New Player, Alex Tsyganko- “It's a lot of fun and competitive. Competition that features various parts of other sports I love.”

• Original RASCBall Netminder, Tim Beem- “How free-flowing games are. Unlike other sports where there is a lot of starting and stopping, RASCBall continues to move at a pace that is enjoyable for both spectators and players.”

• RASCBall Web Designer, Chris Crothers- “It is such a great way to stay in shape. Running on a treadmill is so boring, RASCBall is a challenging and fun activity to replace that. With any athletic background, RASCBall is easy to grasp and understand. It feels natural, you spend time having fun right away instead of being worried about complicated rules.”

• Original RASCBaller, Ian Gruber- “The aspects of various sports thrown into one. It allows you to grow a multitude of ways, whether its passing, boots, defense, etc.”

• RASCBall veteran, Mike Yager- “When I first came out to play it seemed like an anything goes kind of sport and that certainly appealed to me. But over the years I've seen it evolve into something more refined and I've enjoyed being involved in that, while constantly fine-tuning my own skill set. I've always tended to rely on my arm to score goals but I'm learning it's best to have a full arsenal of weapons at my disposal. It's already a very sound sport yet its evolution, as well as my own, is not nearly complete.

• Personal Trainer, Brad Doig- “The physicality and how fast paced the sport is, it's pretty much constant motion. I love basketball but I think their are too many touch fouls and with RASCBall that doesn't happen. Most of all, RASCBall is just a lot of fun to play.

What initially drew you to playing RASCBall?

• Original RASCBall Netminder, Tim Beem- “The excitement and competitiveness that you can't seem to get in other rec-sport leagues. Plus the camaraderie we have built with all of the players is amazing. The fun we have week in and week out is fantastic.”
   

• RASCBall Web Designer, Chris Crothers- “For people that love football or lacrosse, once you're out of school you can't really play anymore. RASCBall seemed like an awesome way to replace previous sports that I loved playing. So far I'm just as addicted.

• New Player, Alex Tsyganko- (Recruited by friends who played) “They knew I play soccer and can run, so they recruited me. When they described the game, it sounded like something I would enjoy.”

• Former Ohio State Hockey Goaltender, Mike Betz- “Competing with my friends.”

• Original RASCBaller, Ian Gruber- “Friends initially drew me into the sport, but after its growth, it was the competitive attitude, sportsmanship, and different styles of play that have kept me playing.”

• Personal Trainer, Brad Doig- “At first I didn't think RASCBall was for me, it sounded kind of strange and because of some injuries I've had, I wasn't even going to try it out. Then I watched the showcase game last summer and my perception of the game changed right away. I liked the way the game flowed and how it combined aspects from several different sports into one."

Our Playing Venues

Indoor Facility
Central Ohio Roller Hockey Sports Facility
941 Burrell Avenue
Grandview Heights, OH 43202
www.CORH.com

Outdoor Facility
Dodge Park (via Columbus Recreation and Parks Department)
667 Sullivant Avenue
Columbus, OH 43215

Check us Out

The purpose of this article is to further introduce RASCBall to public. We want to attract and intrigue sports enthusiasts like you to our product.  Hopefully we have perked your interest. We are always looking to further expand our pool of players, whether that is via individual athletes or with groups. You are cordially invited to check out our games live and in person. E-mail me for a schedule of upcoming events.

Additionally, we are also seeking local companies to partner with for our upcoming Summer League, which will kickoff in June. We are inviting companies to form teams (and we will mix in some established RASCBall veterans and a netminder) to compete in the Summer League. The more athletes and teams, the better.  RASCBall is a fantastic new way for companies to build camraderie amongst co-workers, assist employees in getting in shape, and most importantly it is a load of fun. If you have any questions, comments or concerns feel free to contact me directly.

I hope you enjoyed the articles. Look for us in an upcoming edition of "The Columbus Dispatch" as well. They will be doing a story on our Summer League in the near future.

"RASCBall- The Sport of Athletes" 

Tags: rascball